https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2vv2v6v4vvo
China’s Premier Li Qiang has offered to send Australia two new pandas during his visit to Adelaide Zoo.
The new pandas will replace the zoo’s existing pandas, named Wang Wang and Fu Ni, who are “friendly messengers of China-Australia relations,” Mr Li Said.
Mr Li’s arrival in Australia on a four-day trip is the first by a Chinese leader in seven years, marking improving ties between the two countries.
Both China and Australia will see the visit as central to addressing outstanding trade and consular issues.
Mr Li said while Wang Wang and Fu Ni would return to their hometown by the end of the year, he promised that “China will soon provide another pair of pandas that are equally beautiful, lively, cute and younger to the Adelaide Park [Zoo].
A practice that dates back as far as the Tang Dynasty, which ruled from 618 through 907 CE, panda diplomacy – or sending pandas as diplomatic gifts – has long been an instrument of China’s diplomatic efforts.
中国国务院总理李强在访问阿德莱德动物园期间提出向澳大利亚赠送两只新大熊猫。
李强表示，新大熊猫将取代动物园现有的大熊猫“网网”和“福妮”，它们是“中澳关系的友好使者”。
李强此次对澳大利亚进行为期四天的访问，是中国领导人七年来首次访问澳大利亚，标志着两国关系改善。
中澳两国都将此次访问视为解决悬而未决的贸易和领事问题的关键。
李强表示，虽然“网网”和“福妮”将于今年年底返回家乡，但他承诺“中国将很快向阿德莱德动物园提供另一对同样美丽、活泼、可爱且更年轻的大熊猫”。
熊猫外交（即赠送大熊猫作为外交礼物）这一做法可以追溯到唐朝（公元 618 年至 907 年），长期以来一直是中国外交努力的一种手段。
